Southern Moderate African American Issues

Congressional Candidates and Howler Monkeys

In his reelection bid, Senator John McCain doesn’t deserve opposition from former Congressman J.D. Hayworth. J.D. is good people and constantly spoke to staff on the Hill; I think he thought I was a former football player like him. But, the Ultra-conservatives’ challenges to anyone who dares dialog is with the other party puzzles me.

During the presidential campaign, the Obama vs.McCain suited me fine because both would have been good presidents. If someone from the other party is to lead, I hope it is someone decent. The same can be said about congressional races. We must admit that the vocal Tea Party Movement is very “vocal” but whatever happened to the “science” in political science. They loved to ask members of congress about the number of phone calls they have received and the amount of protest. But, do those numbers accurately reflect the opinions of the average voter or average citizen?

In the rainforest in southern Costa Rica, howler monkeys make a huge roar as a defense mechanism; you would think they are the size of King Kong. These monkeys are actually smaller than my leg but I can’t knock them doing what they need to do to survive. They same can’t be said about vocal protesters on both ends of the political spectrum. I can’t go into the local post office or McDonalds without hearing people say that all they see on T.V. is political this or that. These people only watch one channel or listen to one type radio pundit so they are correct. People who only watch MSNBC can say the same thing.

It is my understanding that Fox News C.E.O. Rogers Ailes admits that his job is to drive viewership (and therefore revenue) rather than objectively informing the public like traditional journalists. He is doing a great job.

In summary, my conservative friends are correct in stating that “what you hear” is a strong criticism of the administration and congressional Democrats. What you don’t hear is the quiet majority who tend to speak in the polling places. November will tell whom the majority trust more or dislikes less but real radicals/activists seldom take over without the middle’s support. The same middle that far right people are busy alienating.

I said it before: if the Right produced congressional candidates like McCain, they might win a large number of seats. But, their primary process yields candidates who scare people like howler monkeys during the general election.